1990 – For the first time ever the Top five positions on the US singles chart were held by female artists; Madonna was at No.1 with ‘Vogue’, Heart were at No.2, Sinead O’Connor No.3, Wilson Phillips at No.4 and Janet Jackson was at No.5

1996 – George Michael went to No.1 on the UK album chart with ‘Older.’

1996 – Attilio Veronese dies. Italian painter.

1997 – France’s deeply unpopular prime minister, Alain Juppe, announced he would resign, a day after the country’s governing center-right coalition suffered major losses in first-round parliamentary elections.

1998 – Veterans reject Japanese ‘sorrow’: Emperor Akihito of Japan speaks of his “pain” over the suffering inflicted by his country during World War II, but war veterans feel he does not go far enough.